RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian authorities say 7,000 soldiers will join thousands of police on Rio de Janeiro’s streets to help protect Pope Francis and upward of 1 million people hoping to see the pontiff.

It was always planned that soldiers would provide protection during a Saturday night prayer vigil and a Sunday Mass that was to be held in a field west of Rio.

But heavy rains turned that field into mud, forcing organizers to move all weekend activities to Rio.

Soldiers will protect participants in a World Youth Day pilgrimage along a 6-mile (9.5-kilometer) walk through Rio’s streets.

Uniformed soldiers will also be on the sands of Copacabana beach in front of the stage where the pope will celebrate Mass.